Venetia

The Veneto region (pronounced with the stress on the first syllable) is located in the north-east of Italy, along the Adriatic Sea. Although most travellers head straight to Venice, the region also contains other popular tourist destinations, such as Verona, Padua, Vicenza, Lake Garda and the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. There are also many attractive towns and landscapes which are less well-known but can combine to create an enjoyable and interesting holiday.

The regional capital is Venice (Venezia), and the region is divided into the provinces of Venezia, Padova, Verona, Vicenza, Belluno, Rovigo and Treviso. Around four and a half million inhabitants are spread between the cities, plains, lagoon, hills and mountains.

For long stretches of its history, much of the Veneto was under the control of the rich and powerful Venetian Republic, and you'll see the city's emblem, the winged lion of St. Mark, all around the region.

Verona, with its Roman ruins and rather spurious Shakespeare connection is a lovely town to wander around. So too is the rather humbler Treviso, a quiet and prosperous town near Venice with picturesque canals of its own.

Padua is an attractive and interesting town with a rich history, impressive architecture and art - particularly Giotto's frescoes - which is a must for the art historian.

Venice and its lagoon offer unmissable sightseeing experiences, and once you're tired of crowded bridges and canals there are plenty of interesting excursions around the lagoon to quieter destinations such as the fishing port of Chioggia and the abandoned island of Torcello.

Culture-lovers will want to attend the famous outdoors opera season in Verona's Roman arena, and will be spoiled for choice with the region's collection of art galleries and fine architecture. Wine-lovers will find several good local wines, including the sparkling Prosecco which can be sampled in vineyards along the so called 'Ring of Prosecco'.

The Dolomites offer resorts for winter skiing and are also popular destinations for summer activities like mountaineering, walking and cycling. The Veneto's principal mountain resort is Cortina d'Ampezzo. Fans of water-sports will head for the Adriatic or for Lake Garda, while more sedate boating experiences can be enjoyed on the Venetian lagoon, gliding up the Brenta Canal towards Padua, or criss-crossing Lake Garda. Swimming and sunbathing are best enjoyed along the Adriatic, where popular (if not beautiful) resorts include Lido di Jesolo and Venice's Lido. Even more relaxing are the inland spa resorts of Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme, and Recoaro Terme famous for their thermal springs.

If you're keen on wildlife or birdwatching, the Venetian lagoon, the Po delta and the region's mountainous areas offer rich habitats with plenty to study. There are several national parks and wildlife reserves which can be visited.